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American History

The Pilgrims

The first sea-fasts ever held in the world? November 9th, 1620. 388 years ago.-"On their voyage they would set apart whole days of fasting and prayer, to obtain from heaven a good success in their voyage, especially when the weather was much against them, whereunto they had remarkable answers; so much so that the sailors were astonished, and said they were the first sea-fasts ever held in the world....The Mayflower sought our shores,” says Webster, “under no high-wrought spirit of commercial adventure, no love of gold, no mixture of purpose warlike or hostile to any human being. Like the dove from the ark, she had put forth only to find rest. Solemn supplications on the shore of the sea in Holland had invoked for her, at her departure, the blessings of Providence. The stars which guided her were the unobscured constellations of civil and religious liberty....Before they sailed, on the deck of the ship, their Pastor—John Robinson—gave them the following farewell charge...I charge you to take heed what you receive as truth; examine it, consider it, and compare it with the scriptures of truth before you receive it."

Exactly 388 years ago to date the Pilgrims sign the Mayflower Compact.-"Pilgrims from Plymouth, England sign the Mayflower Compact November 11th, 1660 exactly 388 years ago.... in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic..."

The first college on the American continent founded by the Pilgrims only 16 years after landing in America 372 years ago!!!-""public" schools are set up and so is the first American University. I put "public" in quotations cause the understanding of a "public" school ever since the ACLU entered into the scene in American history has somewhat changed...."

Early Education Deemed important early on

"endeavor to teach, by themselves or others, theire children"..."As early as 1635, free schools were commenced in Boston"..."The following was passed by the General Court, in the year 1647, for the promotion of common education...after that the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty howsholders, shall then forthwith appointe one within theire towne".."they may bee fitted for the university"

University Education likewise important early on

"In 1636, the colonists began at Cambridge, Massachusetts, the first college on the American continent...The Pilgrims, when they numbered only five thousand families, founded the University of Cambridge, in 1636, with its perennial motto, ‘Christo et Ecclesiae;’"....."A college, accordingly, was established in 1636, and in 1638 Rev. John Harvard, a learned and wealthy minister, died, and by his will gave one-half of his property and his entire library to the college at Boston; and hence it is called Harvard College, and now, also, Cambridge University."

Voluntary Financial Aide was provided for the poor

Rev. Thomas Shepard, D.D., a learned divine, and laborious minister of God, conceived the design of procuring voluntary contributions of corn—money being out of the question—from all parts of New England, for the purpose of maintaining poor students..."Those whom God hath called to attend the welfare of religious commonwealths have been prompt to extend their care for the good of public schools...If, therefore, it were recommended by you to the freedom of every family that is able and willing to give, throughout the plantations, to give but the fourth part of a bushel of corn, or something equivalent thereto...a recommendation which was adopted and very generally responded to.-1644.

"The constitution of Massachusetts, of 1780, thus refers to Harvard College—"...our wise and pious ancestors, so early as the year 1636, laid the foundation of Harvard College...by the blessing of God...the encouragement of arts and sciences, and all good literature, tends to the honor of God"

“In these measures,” says Bancroft, “especially in the laws establishing common schools, lies the secret of the success and character of New England...a pledge of the public care for its morals and its mind"...."God is in history, and all history has a unity because God is in it."-George Bancroft 1800-1891 (American Historian and statesman who the Bancroft Treaties were named after)"

"the philosopher who will understand and interpret history must believe that God, not accident, governs the world."-Chevalier Bunsen (Christian German Philosopher)"

Education

A teacher in North Carolina overstepped her bounds big time and thinks it's ok!!!-"Makes you wonder how many teachers have done something similar but just weren't caught on video!!! Also, ask yourself what would happen to the teacher if this was a subject on evolution and creationism or homosexuality or something!!! Or what if it was an Obama voter that was being treated this way in a grade school. I bet it would get a whole lot more media attention then this is going to get!!!"

Charter schools vs Public Schools in California in the context of educating the poor-"Public schools are a concern for many faith based families, however, that concern can vary from state to state (see Texas school board below) and their are answers to those concerns coming forth....In 1940 teachers reported their major problems were talking, gum chewing, noise, running in halls, and cutting in line. In 1990 the problems were assault, robbery, drug abuse, and pregnancy.... 2005 Associated Press report revealed that during the period of 2000-2004 West Virginia dismissed 41 teachers for sexual misconduct. A Hofstra University professor believes that educator sexual misconduct is "woefully understudied"..The Sexuality Information and Education Council (SIECUS for short) produces lessons for "sex ed" classes known as "Programs That Work". Parents probably do not know that SIECUS criticizes "abstinence-only-until-marriage" curricula as "based on religious beliefs (that) rely on fear and shame". SIECUS also complains that these abstinence programs do not view homosexuality as normal. SIECUS promotes policies, like what we have in West Virginia, where the school can provide birth control without consulting parents...We do not need more reform. We have wasted millions (perhaps billions) of dollars on utopian efforts to reform public schools."

"Charter schools are winning the battle for best education for the poor in California according to recent survey. "12 of the top 15 public schools in California that cater primarily to poor children are charters."-LATimes

Africa and new DVD documentary about Rwanda

New DVD Documentary about forgiveness in Rwanda as killers and victims live side by side!!!-"Could you forgive a person who murdered your family? This is the question faced by the subjects of As We Forgive, a documentary about Rosaria and Chantal—two Rwandan women coming face-to-face with the men who slaughtered their families during the 1994 genocide....Today, killers and the victims live side by side, sharing the mental, physical and emotional scars of war...Pastor Warren's idea is to turn the 726 churches in this region into sort-of healthcare centers.Local Christians learn to use their churches as distribution centers for medicine and basic healthcare.But the P.E.A.C.E. plan encompasses more than just medical projects.Short term teams come from the states to help train Rwandans in various business and development projects.Who does the training?Well, everyday Christians who have expertise to share -- like businesswoman Marianne Phillips who's teaching women to manage small businesses and earn a sustainable income for their families....It's all about joining churches from the west with churches in other countries. About 1,000 Saddleback members have become short-term missionaries to churches in Rwanda, helping to lay the ground work for outreach by local believers."-Yes this is the same Saddleback Church that gay activists are protesting see Homosexuals Protest Warren’s Church for His Pro-Marriage "

Economy

Obama's tax plan changes to more like a Republican one? Also, Election coverage TV ratings in!!!-"Obama's campaign ads rebuked McCain for giving tax breaks to the rich. But now is Obama going back on that!!! See also, Obama's Pick for Chief of Staff Tops Recipients of Wall Street Money....Hats off to ABC this weekABC this week actually did a good job in asking about this tuff question that I was quite interested in and notice how Obama's Chief of Staff responds!!! Go to 2:35 minutes into the interview!!! I wish ABC this week also asked some questions about Obama's Chief of Staff being the number one recipient of Wall Street money and maybe he did but I couldn't find it again see Obama's Pick for Chief of Staff Tops Recipients of Wall Street Money.

An argument that demands a 500 billion dollar response!!!-"every dollar Congress “injects” into the economy must first be taxed or borrowed out of the economy. No new spending power is created"-A must read of a critique of an economic view!!!

No President-elect in the postwar era has been greeted with a more audible hiss from Wall Street.-"News media apply double standard to president-elect's influence on market fluctuations....As stocks rose on Election Day 2008, the media were more than happy to credit investors’ excitement over Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama’s chance of winning. But when stocks tanked in the days following Obama’s election, concern over Obama’s economic policies was the last possible culprit."

Same Sex Marriage

Roseanne Barr: Blacks who supported Prop 8 are 'bigots'...-"Well, let’s see. The civil rights once denied to black Americans included the right to register as a voter, the right to cast a ballot, the right to use numerous public facilities, the right to get a fair hearing in court, the right to send their children to an integrated public school, and the right to equal opportunity in housing and employment. Have gay people been denied any of these rights? Have they been forced to sit in the back of buses? Confined to segregated neighborhoods? Barred from serving on juries? Subjected to systematic economic exploitation?Plainly, declining to change the timeless definition of marriage deprives no one of “the civil rights once denied” to blacks, and it is an absurdity to claim otherwise. It is also a poisonous slur: For if opposing same-sex marriage is like opposing civil rights, then voters who backed Proposition 8 are no better than racists, the moral equivalent of those who turned the fire hoses on blacks in Birmingham in 1963"

Video of Dr Dobson receiving Radio Hall of Fame induction and his speech at The Call California-"I wanted to say real quick concerning Dobson. When he was at The Call California (a gatehring about 10000 or so people in San Diego praying and fasting for America) there were protest in outside of the stadium and Dr Dobson spoke to them with love and tolerance though in obvious disagreement. I was impressed with the way he showed love to his opponents. An example to us all watch Dobson give his speech and how he deals with those who call him a discriminator and bigot."-Thank you Jesus for an example of a modern day hero to follow in Christ as people continue to call us bigots!!! A must view video of Dobson talking to protestors!!!

Breaking News: Governor Schwarzenegger hopes states highest court will overturn Prop 8 and tells protestors to not give up!!!-"California
CA Gov. to Prop 8 Opponents: Don't Give Up-"California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he hopes the state's highest court will overturn Proposition 8, passed by voters last week to define marriage as being only between a man and a woman."-Excellent 2 minute video report. Also, show homosexuals calling Dr Dobson a bigot and discriminator as they protest Dr Dobson's indunction into the radio hall of fame!!! See The largest vote total in the Radio Hall of Fame history is produced by Focus on the Family and Dr Dobson!!!. Also, check out What do these three black women have in common and what does Obama have to do with it? and UK: House of Lords recognizes dangers of hate laws to free speech and religious liberty.

A revealing survey of 1,000 state anti-discrimination laws-"Based on the data, The Becket Fund concludes that if same-sex marriage is recognized by courts or legislatures, people and institutions that have conscientious objections to facilitating same-sex marriage will likely be sued under existing anti-discrimination laws—laws never intended for that purpose."

First Amendment Issues

6 New First Amendment and Religious Freedom Victories!!!-"I have been tallying up the First Amendment related victories since 06/08 and we are now at 31 and there are many more coming. I am just now starting to get caught up on the reporting of these victories. The last tally was at 22 reported on blog titled Pastors vs IRS a week after. Why is not Big Media covering this? and then there was one reported at McCain/Palin vs Obama/Biden/George Lucas/Ellen DeGeneres/Melissa Ethridge/Mary Blige/Hollywood on same sex marriage. and two more at Big Media's disappointing Presidential Debates so far...."

Internationally

Religious freedom issues in Iraq, India and Pakistan.-Iraq. "The extra police were sent in after a campaign of violence and intimidation against Christians last month prompted a mass exodus of more than 2,000 families from Mosul...Since 2004: - Priests have been beheaded - Christian leaders kidnapped - Churches bombed - Unveiled women burned with acid - Men killed for owning a music store or beaten for selling alcohol for communion..."

India-"Speaking to thousands of the faithful gathered in the city of Bharananganam in India, the prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, called for an end to the anti-Christian violence, “as a sign of authentic respect for the religious freedom of all the sons and daughters of India.”

Pakistan-"I will be the first one to put down myself in front of the bulldozers when they come to bulldoze our houses"

Liberal Media Bias

Washington Post admits "a serious omission"/"one gaping hole in coverage"/"13 percent were about issues"/"there were few on religious issues"-"The project also calculated that in that time, 57 percent of the stories were about the horse race and 13 percent were about issues...Some readers thought The Post went over Palin with a fine-tooth comb and neglected Biden. They are right; it was a serious omission."...."Study finds that Leno and Letterman monologues made GOP ticket butt of jokes 7-1 over Democratic ticket."

Pro-Life

Testimony of the most renowned abortion Dr in Serbia turn Pro-Life leader!!!-"The medical textbooks of the Communist regime said abortion was simply the removal of a blob of tissue," the newspaper reported. "Ultrasounds allowing the fetus to be seen did not arrive until the 80s, but they did not change his opinion. Nevertheless, he began to have nightmares"

Jamaica

"The film portion of the physician’s presentation, called “riveting” by RadioJamaica.com, caused many members to shift about in their seats and look at the ground. RadioJamaica reports that current Health Minister Ruddy Spencer and Senator Sandra Faulkner left the room during the viewing, while other members openly turned their heads away from the screen."

Post Abortive men and women you are not alone. Over 220 minutes of video lecture and great counsel from a post abortive woman!!!-"Once your relationship with God has been restored, your guilt has served its purpose and should no longer be given place in your life. This is true regardless of the sin, including the sin of abortion. As a post-abortive woman, I too struggled with this issue until I realized that punishing and hating myself after receiving God’s forgiveness was an insult to God."

Another video pulled from YouTube and an award winning pro-life video!!!-Winner of the Student for Life Video Activism. Check out this video and about 7 more.

Is the pro-life movement any more violent then the pro-choice movement?-Just visit http://www.prochoiceviolence.com/ to see that our movement has been able to document 8519 acts of violence (and counting) by the other side....we already have a peaceful revolution - and not only is it possible, it's growing! As long as I have anything to say about it, there won't be any "anti-abortion terror." Instead, there will be peaceful vigil, 24-hours a day, around abortion centers. That both stops abortions and stops the killing of abortionists."

What did Clinton do within his first two days of presidency? Compare to Bush and lets see what Obama will do.-"Click on link to see chart. Basically Clinton on January 22, 1993 issued five executive orders: 1) Reversed Title 10 regulations banning abortion referred by federal employees, 2) Repealed Mexico City Policy restricting federal funding of international organizations that work to reverse countries' abortion laws, 3) Negated band on funding for fetal tissue transplants, 4) Ordered military hospitals to commit abortion and 5) Asked FDA "review" the import ban on RU-486...."

Breaking Good News

Blacks and Whites reconciling in Jena, Louisiana. One of the infamous "Jena 6" becomes saved and family members of Jena 6. Close relative of one of the "Jena 6" reconciling with DA involved in the Jena 6. 7th week of revival this week being currently held at the very site of the protest of the infamous Jena 6 lead by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Keep this in prayer, it is going on this week.

Other Good News throw ins:

Alveda King Video 8 minute video interview. (Dr Martin Luther King Jr's Neice) excellent interview yesterday. Click on link and then click on AFN News Extra. She answers a question of what would Dr Martin Luther King do if he were hear today?? Find out the answer!!!! For a more in depth radio interview click here that goes into more detail of her difficult upbringing/having an abortion and giving/receiving forgiveness in/thru Christ.

EW Jackson interview today. Concerning recent concerns brought up by Jeremiah Wright (Obamas' Pastor). Controversial but informative.

Update from prior email (Darfur, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia and Namibia: Americas' Approval Ratings Soaring in Africa):

Renewal of PEPFAR- Renewal report from AP google here. "The House voted Wednesday...expanding a program credited with saving more than 1 million lives in Africa alone in the largest U.S. investment ever against a single disease....To advance the legislation, conservatives had to give up a provision in the 2003 act requiring that one-third of all HIV prevention funds be spent on abstinence programs. Instead it directs the administration to promote "balanced funding for prevention activities" in target countries. Liberals, in turn, had to accept some restrictions on family planning groups participating in AIDS programs. Conservatives, concerned that money might be diverted to abortion promotion, pushed for a provision that allows the use of funds for HIV/AIDS testing and counseling services in those family planning programs supported by the U.S. government. A measure in the 2003 act requiring groups receiving funds to have a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking, opposed by some health groups as impeding efforts among sex workers, was also left intact...It expands the program, originally focused on 15 mainly sub-Saharan African countries, to include Caribbean nations as well as Malawi, Swaziland and Lesotho in Africa."

"This will be remembered as the single most significant achievement of President Bush's two terms in office," said Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., chairman of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa.

Now it's off to the Senate!!!

Yanking back the balance and filling in the gaps

Yanking back the balance one click at a time!!!

Encouraging stories of men/women of faith and what they are doing about a dire situation in Africa that is postiviely effecting how Africa views America!!! Again stories that are largely missed in mainstream media. However, an exception will be noted below. Credit must go where credit is due and below you will find a link to a documentary out of Hollywood that apparently is a must see. My sister and brother in law told me about it and I found a very positive review on the movie down below. I have yet to see it myself, though. But my wife and I are going to put it on our next movie to rent list and are looking forward to seeing it.

South/New Sudan and Northern Uganda

Rev Sam Childers

One of two recent interviews that inspired me to make this email- Interview with a Machine Gun Preacher Literally!!!! Click on above link then scroll down to 03-27-2008 and click listen. 2nd Interview that inspired this email scroll down to Zambia.

Missionary Will Go to Jail before Paying Fine- "The FAA refused to retract its fine charged to the missionary for transporting motor oil, WD-40 and diesel treatment, which were to be used to run a generator that would power the showing of The Jesus Film."

WEB EXTRA: Saving Sudan's Children.- "Watch this video, which orginally aired in 2005 on Christian World News. WARNING! This story has disturbing images and should not be viewed by children."

MSNBC Interview of Sam Childers- "Now, supported by contributions from the American evangelical community, he goes on military-style rescue missions for abducted children. He even joins with local African militias to hunt Kony down."

Boyerspond-"The Sudanese staff at the Children's Village primarily are orphans and widows themselves. We've found that no one understands the needs of our children better than those who have shared their experiences."

Orphans of War video library

Angels of East Africa- "built the first playground in South Sudan."

US pastor rescues Uganda Children- "Sam Childers remembers his first visit to the region, seeing a boy who had been killed by a landmine. He said, "As I stood over the child, I cried and wept and I told the Lord Jesus, I'll do whatever I can do to help these people."

Darfur

John Dau

God Grew Tired of Us- National Geogrpahic Documentary. Featuring refugee John Dau and others. (Angela, I think this is the one you were telling me about.)

Review of "God Grew Tired of Us"- "Since Christians are usually the first ones to complain and get indignant over all of the "junk" coming out of Hollywood, I thought it would be a nice change to give some good news. When a film boasts Brad Pitt and Dermot Mulroney as executive producers and Nicole Kidman as the narrator, the eyebrows of the pious naysayers are sure to be raised. I must admit that I was a bit skeptical myself as the opening credits of God Grew Tired of Us began to roll, but by the middle of the film, I was completely in awe of what I was watching. In an effort to tell the stories of the "lost boys" of Sudan, these Hollywood high-rollers have given the world a great glimpse into the cultural mandate of Genesis 1 and the Great Commission of Matthew 28."-Eric Rauch...the Director of Communications for American Vision.

Interview with John Dau- For video of this interview click here.

Church of the Week- Elon Baptist church honoured for support of Darfur.

Rwanda

Immaculee Ilibgiza

Immaculee Ilibgiza: The Real Life of a Refugee (part 1)- "When she got to the pastor's home, he hid her in a tiny bathroom tucked away in his bedroom. By the end of the day, there were six other women clinging to one another on the cold bathroom floor."

Immaculee Ilibgiza: The Real Life of a Refugee (part 2)- "How did Immaculee not hate the people who killed her family?"

Hotel Rwanda- Official web site of movie. Prepare to be disturbed.

Zambia/Namibia

Benedict and Kathleen Schwartz

2nd interview that inspired this email- Click on link to left and scroll down to 03-17-08 and 03-18-2008 entitled Village of Hope click on 03-17-2008 first. "In 2001, Christian businessman Benedict Schwartz heard the call to begin creating orphan villages in Africa. God moved mightily, and soon the Children of Zion Village was built in Namibia. Today on the broadcast, Benedict and his wife, Kathleen, talk to Dennis Rainey about their work and ministry in southwest Africa. Find out how your church or business can join in God's effort to save the orphans around the world."

One Church, One Orphanage- "Africa: Many churches budgets include funds for missionaries, and many individual Christians donate to large international relief agencies-but one church decided to do more....(30 families in the church of 650 have adopted children)" But now, over hundred children have been adopted by this church. All starting with one woman in the church who had adopted 9 herself according to the most recent interview above.

All Kids Can Learn International- "AKCLI is a founding member of the Voice of the Orphans Coalition. The coalition was organized in 2006 by Family Life Ministries, Focus on the Family and Shaohannah's Hope....In 2006 we purchased a 230-acre farm in Zambia, and are planning to build children's villages there for 200 children."

2 Videos concerning orphans that AKCLI serves.

Partners Worldwide- "Christian Business People Transforming Lives". Check out this quick fact sheet they have produced. This is indeed encouraging though in its beginnings. They have partnered with AKCLI.

Cry of the Orphan

Focus on the Family/Family Life Ministries/Supporters

Cry of the Orphan- "The Cry of the Orphan campaign represents a group of Christian organizations and churches that are joining voices to make caring for every orphan a reality."-Cry of the Orphan is an alliance of Focus on the Family, FamilyLife and Shaohannah's Hope.

A Vision for Church Orphans Ministries -Commercial found on GodTube.

Christian Alliance For Orphans announces 4th annual summit- "This annual gathering presents an opportunity for believers to unite their voices in speaking up for those who have no voice, and their passions in motivating other believers to ask God how they might engage in the lives of orphans around the world. Churches as well as other interested individuals are encouraged to attend. Main session speakers at Summit IV include: Jedd Medefind, Special Assistant to President George W. Bush & Deputy Director of the White House Faith-Based Initiative; John Fuller, of "Focus on the Family" Radio and VP of their Audio & New Media Division; Kay Warren, author and wife of Pastor Rick Warren, and Executive Director of Saddleback's HIV Initiative; Pastor Bob Coy, Sr. of host church Calvary Chapel, Ft. Lauderdale; Howard Dayton, co-founder of Crown Financial Ministries; and Dennis Rainey, best-selling author, president and co-founder of Family Life and host of "Family Life Today" radio program."

Christian Alliance For Orphans- "Official web site of the Summit above."

Letter from White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives sent to Cry of the Orphan.

PEPFAR

George W. Bush

PEPFAR- "The five-year, $15-billion plan, the largest commitment ever to combat a single disease..." But is now being highjacked claiming some Republicans in congress "They object to new proposals by Democrats that would end requirements to fund abstinence education programs, give greater funding access to family planning groups, like Planned Parenthood that promote or provide abortions, and would drop the requirement that groups getting money must take a stand against legalized prostitution and human trafficking. Some argue legalizing prostitution would slow the spread of AIDS. With broad bi-partisan support for the fight against AIDS, insiders are hopeful a compromise will be reached." It seems to me here an argument can be made for a need for Americans to be working hard in America to bring attention to these social ills within our society so that we don't spread our ills globally.

4th Annual Report 2008- (The power of partnerships) "it is the first large-scale effort to tackle a chronic disease in the developing world...The success of the Emergency Plan is firmly rooted in partnerships between the American people and the people of the countries in which we are privileged to serve — governments, non-governmental organizations including faith- and community-based organizations, and the private sector. Together, we are building systems and empowering individuals, communities and nations to tackle HIV/AIDS. And in just four years, it is working." Stats galore...

Helping Africa: Bush's Greatest Legacy?- Article and video to click on. This is where I got the above quote from concerning the Democrats attempting to high-jack PEPFAR.

Case study of the campaigns leading to The Presidents' Ermergency Plan for Aides Relief (PEPFAR)- "While the Presidents's announcement came at a suprise to many, this fundamental policy change did NOT occur in a vacuum...unanticipated events and partnerships played a significant role in leveraging Global HIV/AIDS. The emergence of evangelical Christian groups in HIV/AIDS advocacy was critical and particularly powerful with the Bush Administration and the Republican-led congress." Scroll down to page 6 of the report titled "Evangelical Christian Groups"..."According to GAAN, the call from conservative Christians for a greater US response and commitment to providing ARV treatment was the "decisive civil society voice on Global Aides issues and...effectively ended political opposition to the expansion of these programs.""- This case study presents many other factors besides just the evangelical christians like the UN, Clinton and Gore but this email is more focused on what the media usually misses namely that Bush, Republicans and Evangelicals are involved, also. Not here to report what most already know but rather to report some missing gaps of most media groups.

White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Director Jay Hein to Lead Delegation to Africa- "The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) today announced that Director Jay Hein will lead a delegation to Rwanda and Zambia from March 30 to April 5, 2008...Pastor Rick Warren and President Kagame will be among the featured speakers...Both conferences will explore best practices and train indigenous faith and community organizations to partner with the U.S. to combat disease and spur economic growth...During his visit, President Bush highlighted the importance of faith-based and community organizations to help the people of Africa deal with the health crises and development issues."

Bush of Africa- "Mr. Bush hasn't gotten much credit for this among the American public, but, as a BBC interviewer noted yesterday, his approval rating in Africa is in the 80% range, which is astonishingly high. The numbers are borne out by the Pew Global Attitudes survey. Critics of Mr. Bush seize on the low numbers in that survey for people's opinion of America in the Europe or in parts of the Arab world. But a 2007 Pew survey found 88% of those in the Ivory Coast view America favorably, 87% of those in Kenya, 80% of those in Ghana, and 79% of those in Mali. These numbers top the Pew charts."

Pew Global Attitudes Project- Latest report as of as of 06-27-2007 that was used in above article. 129 page document with many stats of interest in other subject to!!! But those concerning the subject of Africa and to save you some time check out the portion entitled Anti-Americanism: Deeper but not Wider on page 3, U.S. Remains Popular in Africa on page 13, and Bush Ratings Sag on page 61 but go to the last paragraph of that section on page 63 just before Putin Also Viewed Skeptically. There were some interesting survey questions that partain to this subject. They are: Please tell me if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable....opinion of the US and check out Africas' opinion on page 88, Please tell me if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable....opinion of Americans and Africas' opinion on page 89, In making international policy decisions... and Africas' opinion on page 97. Actually there is to much to report. Just check out the surveys from pg 83 to 129 for yourself!!!! This report, also reports what everybody knows namely that Bush is not popular in most countries nor is the US but again I am here just to fill in a gap that is missing in most media groups namely Africa's view of the US and Bush.

Lastly, some added comments about The Church at work

The Bride of Christ may not be perfect but beautiful. Some may be at work in their own homes. Some have been enabled to branch out to their communities. Some have been enabled to branch out to her own nation. Some have been enabled to branch out to other nations. And yes some have even branched out into space. Some may be this and that in almost all areas of human life. Some may be the eyes and some the hands and some the feet but one thing is for sure that when the Body of Christ is seen as a whole she is beautiful even though she is not perfect. But she is certainly balanced as a whole though not individually but may I ask: Was it ever God's intention for individuals alone to be looked at as the whole?

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."-1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

An attachment to this email is a song from Derek Webb of an artistic expression of Christ love for the church called "The Church". One of my favorite christian singers!!! Lyrics to the song are here off of the album She Must and Shall Go Free-"After ten years in a Christian band, backstage in the music industry and in the hallways of church buildings across America, my attention as a songwriter has turned to a fresh affection for the Church. It seems we know all too little of who She is, how She should dress, or what She was made for. I have found that Scripture is provocative when it comes to these issues and so these songs are not for the faint of heart. Truth is, God would rather die than be without Her, and She is both wretched and radiant. I'm convinced that there is only one righteousness suitable for Jesus's bride, and He is jealous for Her love. For the believer, truth is freedom. Even truth that is hard to hear. May these songs stir all of us to see, as if for the first time, that we have (still) a great need for a Savior, and a great Savior for our need.— God bless, derek

One of my favorite lines of lyric is from this album.
"The truth is never sexy
So it's not an easy sell
You can dress her like the culture
But she'll shock 'em just as well"-Nobody Loves Me